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Stamp Act
Parliament passed the Stamp Act in 1765. This act required that documents be printed on paper that had been stamped to show that the duty had been paid. Documents such as newspapers, diplomas, legal documents, pamphlets, and playing cards were all affected by this act. The Stamp Act was the first time the colonists were directly taxed by Parliament. -
Boston Massacre
On March 5, 1770, Private Hugh White was guarding the King’s money in the Custom House on King Street by himself. Soon angry colonists arrived and violent fighting broke out. During this massacre, 5 colonists were killed, including Crispus Atticus, a freed slave and one of the Patriots’ ringleaders, Samuel Gray, James Caldwell, Samuel Maverick, and Patrick Carr. Additionally, 6 colonists were badly injured. -
Boston Tea Party
During the Boston Tea Party, colonists sneaked aboard British ships disguised as Mohawk Indians and dumped 342 chests of tea into the Boston Harbor in under four hours. This event was initiated by the Boston Sons of Liberty and led by Samuel Adams and John Hancock. They did this to demonstrate their resistance to the Tea Act and to taxation without representation. -
Intolerable Acts
The Intolerable Acts, passed by Parliament, included the Boston Port Act, which shut down the harbor and cut off trade, the Massachusetts Government Act, which put the colonists under British control, the Administration of Justice Act, which allowed British offenders to be tried in Britain, and the Quartering Act, which allowed British soldiers to stay in colonists homes. -
Declaration of Independence
Written by Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin, the Declaration of Independence stated America's specific grievances that they had with British strives to alter imperial administration during the 1760s and 1770s. A beginning draft condemned the British for the transatlantic slave trade; however, this was later removed when it was opposed by American states who profited from it. -
Treaty of Paris
During the final battle in the War for Independence, the Continental and French armies trapped the British regiments in Yorktown, forcing their surrender. This left the British without enough money or support for continue a war. Therefore, the Treaty of Paris was signed in France, marking an official end to the Revolutionary War. -
The Constitutional Convention
Twelve of the thirteen states attended the Constitutional convention held in Philadelphia. The delegates met to revise the Articles of Confederation, but specifically, the federal government's inability to levy taxes. Madison proposed the Virginia Plan, which suggested a strong federal government; however, there was much controversy over how much power the government should have, as well as how many votes a state should receive. This led to the Great Compromise, giving each state two senators. -
First Presidential Inauguration
George Washington became the first President of the United States on April 30, 1789 after taking the presidential oath of office. Washington gave his famous First Inaugural Address after taking the oath. His inauguration took place at Federal Hall in New York, where New York governor, George Clinton, as well as many congressmen and citizens watched.
